Rai and Lagergren lead at Wentworth as McIlroy fades late

Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren share the lead after the first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Both men shot six-under-par 66 on Thursday to set the early pace in Surrey. BBC

Rai was the steadier of the two. The Englishman made seven birdies, which means seven holes finished in one shot under par, against a single bogey, one shot over par, on the 16th.

Lagergren found a faster route. The Swede made an eagle on the 12th, two under par on one hole, to jump to six under and join Rai at the top.

For a while, neither man led. Rory McIlroy charged to five under after 10 holes and held the outright lead midway through his round. The roar followed him around the West Course. Then the wind bit back.

McIlroy dropped three shots in his final seven holes. He found water on his penultimate hole and closed with a three-under-par round, three strokes behind the joint-leaders. "It started to get a little tricky there," McIlroy said afterwards. Independent

The board behind is crowded. Ryan Gerard, Adam Scott, Nacho Elvira and Ludvig Aberg all sit one shot off the lead at five under. One loose swing can cost two places here. One good one can regain them.

Jon Rahm endured a very different day. The Spaniard carded a six-over-par 78 and faces a fight to make the weekend. The cut line, the score that decides who plays the final two rounds, will feel a long way off.

The tournament is the DP World Tour's flagship Rolex Series event, staged at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water. Golf Channel

For fans, this means a proper bunched leaderboard. Rai looks calm and controlled. Lagergren has the fireworks. McIlroy is close enough to strike, but he must tidy up the finish that cost him on Thursday.